Experimental Design

[Avis_de-Incendia]

you *typed* something that I find amusing

xD

[2win]

you *typed* something that I find amusing

xD

JUST shut up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Bring this to chat room.

[EastStroudsburg13]

Yes, please. This is an event thread.

Is there any specific way we have to do range/standard deviation?

[eyeball138]

No, I don't think so. Just make it clear in the statistical analysis. For standard deviation, because we don't have graphing calculators, we won't get the exact number (we can't do some of the square roots in our head at the end). I think, correct me if I'm wrong Chuck, that we're just going to estimate the standard deaviation. How were you thinking that you were going to do it?

[EastStroudsburg13]

We were going to do it the way with the square roots. Why couldn't you do that on your calculator? It (the rules) just says it has to be non-programmable.

[andrewwski]

Most pocket ("four-function") calculators will even do standard deviation.

No doubt they want you to know how to calculate it - not just guess or estimate. I've never seen SO ask you to guess or estimate (except maybe Fermi...)

There's a very easy way to calculate it with a chart. Subtract each value from the mean and square it. Sum all those up and divide by one minus the number of trials. Then square root.

[eyeball138]

We were going to do it the way with the square roots. Why couldn't you do that on your calculator? It (the rules) just says it has to be non-programmable.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I think we would estimate the square roots if the number came out to be a really large decimal. I'm not sure though, I won't be the person doing the statistical analysis.

Andrewwski, we know how to calculate standard deviation...on a programmable calculator you can just punch in the numbers. On a non programmable calculator you have to go through everything step by step.

[Flavorflav]

How important is it to know the equations? For example, say they give you some springs and a spring scale and you decide to measure the force required to stretch them to different distances. Would your score be lower if you did not know F=-kx? Should you at some point compare your data to the numbers predicted by the equation?

[sadistic_cottoncandy]

yes....the main thing with that, i think, is that it just shows how knowledgeable you are on the topic. i don't think that it would meant a big point reduction if you didn't put the formulas, but it just makes you look smarter.

[Fireheart347]

yeah...so our team hasn't practiced much. How bad off are we??